Carbon fibre and plastics specialist Teijin (Tokyo / Japan; www.teijin.co.jp/english) has begun operations at a pilot plant for the production of carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) components at its Matsuyama / Japan facility. The company announced its plan to build the plant in December 2011 – see Plasteurope.com of 06.12.2011.

The facility utilises Teijin’s mass-production technology for CFRTP components, which, the company says, reduces cycle times required for moulding composite products to under a minute, allowing rapid production of prototypes and performance evaluation tests, including complex-shaped moulded products and large components. The cycle time is ideal for vehicle mass production. CFRTP components are expected to find wide-ranging applications in automobiles and other industrial uses and are recyclable.

Teijin said it is aiming at annual sales of JPY 150 bn to JPY 200 bn (EUR 1.4 bn to EUR 1.85 bn) for carbon fibre composite products by 2020.